Icelandic student performance declines in PISA 2025 results

New PISA 2025 results indicate a significant decline in the academic performance of Icelandic students compared to 2015. The decline is most pronounced in reading comprehension, where scores have dropped by 64 points since 2015, leaving Iceland in last place among OECD European countries. Mathematics and science scores have also seen substantial decreases, with Iceland falling well below the OECD averages.

Critics point to a lack of investment in educational resources as a contributing factor. Reports indicate that nearly 0.4% of primary school operating costs are allocated to teaching materials, significantly lower than the 1.5–2% seen in countries like Finland. While the upcoming national budget includes a 380 million ISK increase for the publication of teaching materials at the primary level, current funding increases for educational services are noted to be below inflation rates.